used to attack the u.k. mainland. now history could repeat itself. >> they have been using this in game plans as a provisional i.r.a. there's nothing gnaw. they can't think any new ideas. so anything that was done in the past, you could be sure that they'll try and duplicate that. >> but the threat isn't the same. they don't have the same amount of weapons or explosives as the i.r.a. used to have. >> the threat from the republicans is a serious one but nothing like the ones in the past. it's something that provides the possibility of occasional lethal attack, rather than sustained campaign on the mainland, but it's something which people in the government and in the security circles clearly take very seriously on the basis of evidence, rather than just imagination. >> dissident republicans don't have any political support here. 99% of people in northern ireland are against them. but there's no sign of the violence ending, and the fear is it could get worse. bbc news, belfast. >> delegates at the special united nations